Graham McNamee

Graham McNamee was a radio announcer whose color commentary made him one of America's first and most beloved live sports commentators.

McNamee began his career as an operatic baritone. His radio commentating career began when he stepped into a radio station out of curiosity. That chance encounter led to his becoming a hit on the radio, specializing in sports color commentary, particularly baseball, despite the fact that he wasn't an expert on the sport. He also tackled such topics as politics and aeronautics.

He took ill with a streptococcus infection in early 1942 and died at age 53 at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City on May 9 of that year.